Crops and Robbers by Paige Shelton is the third book in the “Farmers’ Market” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), December 2011

Thanks to her delicious farm-made jams and preserves, Becca Robins’s business has been booming. But when an unhappy customer turns up dead in Becca’s kitchen, she’s afraid it will really sour her reputation.

Bailey’s Farmer’s Market is all abuzz with the impending visit of the Central South Carolina Restaurant Association. Becca is pleased about the visit, but with her jams and preserves already flying off her market table, it’s her parents’ unexpected visit she is truly excited about. With her family watching from the sidelines, Becca happily hands out samples.

But when Joan Ashworth, the president of the association vetoes the strawberry preserves, Becca finds herself reeling from the snub. After pulling herself together, Becca heads home, only to find Joan’s body in her kitchen and her mother with blood on her hands. Now, Becca has to figure out what really happened to Joan and get her Mom out of a terrible jam.

With her parents in town and the restaurant association looking at her wares Becca is one happy vendor, that is, until her mother is arrested for a crime she didn’t commit and Becca will do what needs to be done to dig up the truth to find a killer. This was a good read that I practically devoured from the minute I picked up the book. The mystery was good as it had me quickly turning the pages and I was surprised when the killer was revealed. With a great cast of characters, pleasant conversations and a feel-good atmosphere, this was the best one yet in the pleasing and delectable series that is tantalizing as fresh apple pie.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book